A publication of International Finance Corporation: Gender Entrepreneurship Markets
Third Quarter Edition, Global Newsletter: July 2006
Introduction
IFC GEM welcomes you to its seventh quarterly newsletter designed to keep businesswomen in touch with key events, relevant research and, most importantly, each other!
Reports on Women's Entrepreneurship in Kenya Launched More than 120 participants attended the launch of the Gender and Economic Growth Assessment (GGA) and Voices of Women Entrepreneurs in Kenya this May in Nairobi, Kenya. The studieswere commissioned by the Kenyan Ministry of Trade and Industry and carried out by IFC GEM, the Foreign Investment Advisory Service, and the World Bank. World Bank Country Director, Colin Bruce, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, David Nalo, launched the reports during a Gender and Economics Workshop, hosted by the World Bank and IFC GEM for participants from across Africa. Read more...
IFC and Nigeria's Access Bank Open Credit Line for Women Entrepreneurs
The IFC signed an agreement in June to provide a US$15 million loan to Access Bank Plc, a Nigerian bank that will be one of the first banks in Africa to dedicate lines of credit to finance women-owned businesses. This is the first major loan under IFC GEM. Declan Duff, IFC's Vice President, Industries, said, "Women are a driving force in the African economy, but their access to finance is still far too small… This initiative will increase the contributions of women-owned businesses to the Nigerian economy and can have a significant development impact." Read more...
Commercial and International Bank (CIB) Egypt Joins Global Banking Alliance for Women The Global Banking Alliance for Women accepted this June Egypt's CIB as its first member from the Middle East and North Africa. In welcoming CIB, the Alliance recognized the bank's leadership in the retail women's market and its new partnership with the IFC to develop a women entrepreneurs program. The signing ceremony took place at the 2006 Global Summit of Women in Cairo in the presence of Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Egypt's Minister of Investment. Read more...
World Economic Forum on the Middle East Hosts Women Leaders
The Women Leaders Programme of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East brought together for the first time women ministers from across the region to construct a five-year action plan for policies to address the region's gender gap at this year's forum in May. Read more...
IFC Pangea Artisan Market and Café Opens under Women's Empowerment Theme A series of activities in May commemorated the launch of IFC's Pangea Market and Café, which sells handcrafted products made by artisans in developing countries and tells their stories through multimedia exhibits. As part of Pangea's educational and outreach efforts, the IFC's Grassroots Business Initiative and IFC GEM organized a thematic day to celebrate Women's Economic Empowerment. Read more...
GEM Hosts Emerging Women Leaders as Part of Mentorship Program
In April 2006 GEM hosted at the IFC over 20 women from around the world who were visiting the US as part of the US Department of State's International Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership. For more information, send an e-mail.
First World Bank Group Investment Climate Assessment to Feature Gender Analysis The World Bank and the GEM program of the IFC Private Enterprise Partnership for the Middle East and North Africa (PEP MENA) discussed gender-related findings and recommendations of the Yemen Investment Climate Assessment during a seminar with key experts and stakeholders this April in Yemen. Read more...
Imagining Ourselves Online Exhibit Connects Women Since March 8, Imagining Ourselves, an online exhibit by the International Museum of Women in San Francisco, has provided a platform for young women to create positive change in their lives, their communities, and the world. The project includes an online exhibit, a series of global events, a celebrity blog on Yahoo!, and a dazzling book published by the New World Library.. Read more...
Twenty-One Leaders Honoured for Breaking Barriers on Behalf of Women
Women's eNews Annual gala in New York this May honoured twenty-one individuals for breaking barriers on behalf of women. Read more...
Fellowships Available at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) NED welcomes applications to its Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program for the 2007-2008 year in Washington, D.C. To apply, visit the National Endowment for Democracy website.
Global Symposium on Growth Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs
This two-day symposium in Stockholm, Sweden brought together entrepreneurs, bankers, policy-makers and academic researchers to discuss hurdles for women that want to start, run and grow their businesses. Read more...
In Rio Rush Hour, Women Relax in Single-Sex Trains In Rio de Janeiro, women traveling on rush-hour trains can find a haven from sexual harassment in single-sex cars, a result of a law enacted last month. Even critics of the law acknowledge the mood in the "pink cars" is relaxed and cheerful. Read more...
Fatima Wali, Nigerian Entrepreneur Fatima Walli has redefined the meaning of property management in Nigeria by breaking new ground in the formerly underdeveloped and male dominated domain of property and facilities management. Fatima initially set up Participant Properties Limited in 1994 with a partner who asked her to help renovate and manage a large property under lease. Armed with years of experience in the private and public sectors and with degrees in architecture, urban studies, economics and management construction, Fatima accomplished this task with ease and began looking for her next challenge. She realized that comfortable and well maintained properties, particularly for short to medium term visitors, were few and far between in Nigeria, and she established FilmoRealty Ltd. With a portfolio of 120 units under management, Filmo has become the first point of call for foreign diplomats and multinational expatriates seeking modern and safe accommodation in Nigeria. Filmo now has properties in Lagos, Abuja and soon in Port Harcourt.
A successful entrepreneur, Fatima is also serious about gender equality and about ensuring business access to other women. She was instrumental in making the initial link between GEM and Access Bank Nigeria that led Access Bank to become one of the first banks in Africa to dedicate a line of credit specifically for women entrepreneurs. An active member of the International Facilities Management Association, Fatima is a dynamic woman who is regularly invited to speak at international conferences on real estate and facilities management topics, as well as on issues of concern to African business women. Her next challenge is to expand Filmo's innovative business model into other parts of West Africa. We have no doubt that she will successfully meet this challenge with her characteristic energy and enthusiasm.
Each Women in Business newsletter spotlights either a women's business association that has developed an innovative idea or process that promotes women's entrepreneurship, or an enterprising and inspiring woman who has achieved success. If you have a success story to share, please atemail us with the details. We look forward to sharing your stories.
IIFC GEM is looking for women and men experienced in the field of private sector development and gender for future short-term assignments. If you have relevant experience and would like to be included in our database, please email us.